Whether it is offered as proof that people have been "touched by the hand of God" or "possessed by an evil spirit/devil/demon etc." the psychological phenomon known as mass hysteria has helped fuel superstitious fear and feed the bank of accounts of cult leaders for many years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_hysteria

The salem witch trials were a prime example of how mass hysteria can quickly spread and wreck the lives of hundreds as paranoia grows with it:

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/salem.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_Witch_Trials

Now what do you feel the chances of that happening again in todays age of reason and science?

Cheers,

Den.

Nah! That could never happen again

http://www.csicop.org/si/2000-05/delusions.html

http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/satan.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic_ritual_abuse
http://www.stopbadtherapy.com/myths/sra.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism
http://members.tripod.com/~HazelWolf/Hazel_Witchhunt.html

http://www.slate.com/id/2099203/sidebar/2099208/
http://the-trukstop.com/articles/2007/myths_of_manson.html